Suzuki Swift Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Suzuki Swift passes its MOT first time on 71.2% of tests, 1.6 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (72.8%). That puts it ahead of 40% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2020 Swift does best (beats 71% of cars) and the 2008 worst (beats 24%).

Of its engines, the 1.2 Hybrid does best (beats 75%) and the 1.3 Petrol worst (beats 24%).

Better than average on emissions & leaks, body & structure, steering.

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.6×as often as a typical car

Visibility1.3×as often as a typical car

Sidelights1.8×as often as a typical car

Brake pipes3.5×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Suzuki SwiftTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 19%

Beats 15%

Beats 17%

Beats 25%

Beats 26%

Beats 26%

Beats 24%

Beats 25%

Beats 30%

Beats 48%

Beats 56%

Beats 56%

Beats 54%

Beats 54%

Beats 47%

Beats 52%

Beats 55%

Beats 63%

Beats 71%

Beats 71%

Beats 88%

Beats 97%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	2010–2020	507,599	76.8%	Beats 53%	C
1.5 Petrol	2005–2010	144,017	53.8%	Beats 26%	D
1.3 Petrol	2005–2011	143,640	54.1%	Beats 24%	D
1.6 Petrol	2006–2017	81,893	68.9%	Beats 43%	C
1.0 Petrol	2001–2020	73,984	82.2%	Beats 41%	C
1.2 Hybrid	2017–2023	60,961	90.4%	Beats 75%	B
1.0 Hybrid	2017–2019	27,855	86.9%	Beats 70%	B
1.2 Diesel	2006–2014	26,924	57.6%	Beats 25%	D
1.4 Petrol	2018–2019	12,199	88.0%	Beats 72%	B
1.4 Hybrid	2020–2022	4,835	90.2%	Beats 68%	B

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Brakes: 9.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

12.0% vs 10.6%

Brakes

9.6% vs 6.0%

Suspension

9.0% vs 8.2%

Visibility

6.0% vs 4.6%

Tyres

5.5% vs 6.0%

Emissions & leaks

2.0% vs 2.6%

Body & structure

1.8% vs 2.9%

Seat belts & airbags

0.7% vs 0.8%

Steering

0.5% vs 1.5%

Wheels

0.2% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Sidelights 1.8× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Windscreen wipers 1.6× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Handbrake performance 2.2× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Brake performance 2.1× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal.
Suspension ball joints 1.8× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Suzuki SwiftTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Sidelights	4.5%	2.4%	1.8×
Brake lights	3.7%	2.1%	1.8×
Windscreen wipers	3.7%	2.3%	1.6×
Tyre tread depth	2.5%	2.3%	1.1×
Tyre damage & cracking	2.5%	3.4%	0.7×
Headlight aim	2.4%	2.9%	0.8×
Handbrake performance	2.4%	1.1%	2.2×
Brake pipes	2.3%	0.7%	3.5×
Brake performance	2.3%	1.1%	2.1×
Suspension ball joints	2.2%	1.3%	1.8×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	44.2
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	39.7
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	36.3
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	35.5
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	24.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	24.3
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded	22.6
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	21.0

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Suzuki Swift1 engine94.0% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Hybrid	2,959	94.0%	Beats 97%	A

2022 Suzuki Swift2 engines92.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Hybrid	6,949	92.9%	Beats 91%	A
1.4 Hybrid	1,660	91.3%	Beats 75%	B

2021 Suzuki Swift2 engines90.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Hybrid	19,970	90.6%	Beats 72%	B
1.4 Hybrid	1,619	89.9%	Beats 63%	B

2020 Suzuki Swift4 engines89.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Hybrid	25,192	89.8%	Beats 72%	B
1.2 Petrol	2,647	88.4%	Beats 57%	C
1.4 Hybrid	1,556	89.4%	Beats 68%	B
1.0 Petrol	1,054	91.4%	Beats 81%	A

2019 Suzuki Swift5 engines87.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	26,932	87.1%	Beats 58%	C
1.0 Petrol	11,447	87.8%	Beats 58%	C
1.0 Hybrid	7,473	88.7%	Beats 78%	B
1.4 Petrol	6,205	88.8%	Beats 75%	B
1.2 Hybrid	1,764	88.8%	Beats 75%	B

2018 Suzuki Swift5 engines85.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	31,134	85.0%	Beats 47%	C
1.0 Hybrid	12,381	86.6%	Beats 66%	B
1.2 Petrol	7,394	85.2%	Beats 47%	C
1.4 Petrol	5,994	87.2%	Beats 70%	B
1.2 Hybrid	3,114	86.3%	Beats 64%	B

2017 Suzuki Swift5 engines84.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	23,233	84.2%	Beats 48%	C
1.2 Petrol	20,771	83.5%	Beats 46%	C
1.0 Hybrid	8,001	85.8%	Beats 68%	B
1.6 Petrol	2,205	83.3%	Beats 50%	C
1.2 Hybrid	1,013	87.6%	Beats 80%	A

2016 Suzuki Swift2 engines81.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	73,956	81.4%	Beats 45%	C
1.6 Petrol	8,813	82.4%	Beats 60%	C

2015 Suzuki Swift2 engines80.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	97,821	80.3%	Beats 52%	C
1.6 Petrol	12,257	81.0%	Beats 62%	B

2014 Suzuki Swift3 engines77.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	76,598	77.6%	Beats 54%	C
1.6 Petrol	10,659	77.6%	Beats 61%	B
1.2 Diesel	2,354	67.9%	Beats 17%	E

2013 Suzuki Swift3 engines74.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	65,869	74.2%	Beats 55%	C
1.6 Petrol	9,186	76.0%	Beats 69%	B
1.2 Diesel	3,061	66.9%	Beats 30%	D

2012 Suzuki Swift3 engines70.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	67,155	71.4%	Beats 57%	C
1.6 Petrol	8,483	71.7%	Beats 62%	B
1.2 Diesel	5,344	63.0%	Beats 28%	D

2011 Suzuki Swift4 engines66.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	47,130	68.1%	Beats 55%	C
1.3 Petrol	3,800	57.6%	Beats 12%	E
1.6 Petrol	3,240	57.5%	Beats 13%	E
1.2 Diesel	2,242	63.6%	Beats 43%	C

2010 Suzuki Swift5 engines60.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	24,577	58.3%	Beats 23%	D
1.2 Petrol	21,326	63.0%	Beats 43%	C
1.5 Petrol	5,274	63.2%	Beats 31%	D
1.6 Petrol	2,945	55.2%	Beats 17%	E
1.2 Diesel	2,779	55.5%	Beats 26%	D

2009 Suzuki Swift4 engines56.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	29,839	56.3%	Beats 25%	D
1.5 Petrol	28,260	57.2%	Beats 26%	D
1.6 Petrol	5,575	55.0%	Beats 26%	D
1.2 Diesel	4,075	51.5%	Beats 19%	E

2008 Suzuki Swift4 engines53.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Petrol	36,483	53.6%	Beats 25%	D
1.3 Petrol	28,964	53.3%	Beats 24%	D
1.6 Petrol	7,674	52.0%	Beats 25%	D
1.2 Diesel	3,324	50.7%	Beats 26%	D

2007 Suzuki Swift4 engines52.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Petrol	37,400	53.4%	Beats 27%	D
1.3 Petrol	31,395	52.4%	Beats 26%	D
1.6 Petrol	8,782	50.4%	Beats 26%	D
1.2 Diesel	1,604	47.1%	Beats 19%	E

2006 Suzuki Swift4 engines50.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Petrol	27,946	50.5%	Beats 25%	D
1.3 Petrol	16,458	50.4%	Beats 26%	D
1.2 Diesel	2,141	45.6%	Beats 20%	E
1.6 Petrol	2,074	52.1%	Beats 39%	D

2005 Suzuki Swift2 engines48.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Petrol	8,654	49.4%	Beats 27%	D
1.3 Petrol	8,607	48.3%	Beats 24%	D

2003 Suzuki Swift1 engine54.1% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	1,442	54.1%	Beats 17%	E

2002 Suzuki Swift1 engine52.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	4,012	52.7%	Beats 15%	E

2001 Suzuki Swift1 engine54.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	1,662	54.0%	Beats 19%	E

FAQ

What is the Suzuki Swift MOT pass rate?

71.2% of MOT tests on the Suzuki Swift were passed first time, based on 1,083,907 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2001–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 72.8% of the time.

Is the Suzuki Swift reliable?

On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 40% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Suzuki Swift year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2020 Swift does best for its age and mileage: it beats 71% of cars on UK roads. The 2008 does worst: it beats 24%.

Which Suzuki Swift engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.2 Hybrid does best: it beats 75% of cars on UK roads. The 1.3 Petrol does worst: it beats 24%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Suzuki Swift?

The most common failure items are sidelights, brake lights, windscreen wipers. Compared with similar cars, sidelights comes up 1.8× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Suzuki Swift reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ